Shorthanded Valkyries can't keep pace with Phoenix, lose second straight at home
Not only did the Valkyries have just eight available players, but five of their top seven scorers were out, including Cecilia Zandalasini and Iliana Rupert.
Their absences showed.
With Kayla Thornton out for the season, Golden State played without Monique Billings (ankle), Rupert (concussion protocol) and late scratches Tiffany Hayes (rest) and Zandalasini (left calf) and scored just 32 points in the second half while shooting 31.6% after the break.
Phoenix's 98 points are the third-most scored on Golden State, which fell to 2-13 when allowing 80 points or more. It was the first time the Valkyries have lost consecutive home games.
With the loss, Golden State's lead over Seattle — which sits in the eighth and final playoff spot — is down to a half-game. Ninth-place Los Angeles is 1½ games back of the Valkyries.
All eight players who dressed scored, led by Veronica Burton's 24 points and 14 assists, but the Valkyries (18-17) surrendered a 12-point second-half lead. Golden State looked gassed at points in the second half, giving Phoenix (21-13) enough space to shoot 54.1% from the field.
The Valkyries shot 51.3% in the first two quarters, including 9-for-18 from behind the arc, to lead 59-47 at halftime.
Phoenix used a 21-14 third frame to dissolve its 12-point deficit and went ahead by as much as nine.
Not only were the Valkyries shorthanded, but they were also undersized. Billings and Rupert are Temi Fagbenle's backup centers, and their absences forced Laeticia Amihere — who averaged just 5.0 minutes over the last five games — into action. She finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.
Phoenix outrebounded the Valkyries 40-29 and tallied 40 points in the paint. Center Natasha Mack scored 14 points on 7-for-7 shooting.
The game began with Martin on the court and no update on Zandalasini until late in the first quarter, when the team told the Chronicle that the Italian wing was 'stretching' and still available. A few minutes later, they ruled her out with a left calf injury after she experienced tightness during warmups.
Zandalasini, who arrived to watch the game on the bench in the second half, has been the Valkyries' top shooter over the past 15 games at 47.7% from the field.
The Valkyries will play the Mercury again on Friday, this time in Phoenix, to conclude the four-game season series.
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